Expressing concern over excessive use of fertilisers in farming, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today cautioned farmers about the damage caused to crops and soil.
Modi also raised the issue of reducing water table in Punjab, and urged farmers to adopt modern techniques to prevent the decline.
"Farmers of Punjab have satiated the hunger of our countrymen. They have given food. But in Punjab, underground water has gone below the danger level. I want to request farmers to use modern techniques and move towards micro irrigation, sprinklers to save water," he said.
Addressing a gathering at the India-Pakistan border here after paying floral tributes to freedom struggle martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdeve and Rajguru, he asked them to use water for irrigation judiciously.
On the excessive use of fertilisers in fields for better output, Modi noted that according to experts use of nitrogen in excess of four times of potash could damage crop and soil fertility.
"But in Punjab, farmers are using nitrogen 57 times more than what it was required... What have farmers done to the land by using chemical fertilizers? We (farmers) are committing mistake by doing this which can damage crop and soil," he said.
He exhorted the farmers to give a direction to nation by deciding the proportion in which fertilsers should be used.
He further asked farmers to use phosphorus as per requirement and to use science and technology for better output and assured them that the government would help them in this regard.
On the issue of crop-damage caused due to recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm, Modi said the Centre and state government would leave no stone unturned in providing support to affected farmers.
"I know how much farmers have suffered because of hailstorms. Surveys have been started (of affected areas). Centre and state government are with you and government will not hesitate in providing adequate help to you," he said.
